Bathtub



- y ,1937. W.A.HOUSEWELLER 2,079,739

BATHTUB Filed July 3, 1935 //v I E/V 7'02 1 B/JLLJAMJ I HUZ/SEWELLEH ,47TORNEY Patented May 11, 1937 UNiTED STATES ATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention particularly relates to a bath tub which is designed primarily to prevent slipping while entering and leaving and, in those instances where a shower has been installed as an appurtenance, to prevent slipping while the shower is being used.

The present types of bath tubs are designed with a base which is curved upwardly to merge with the sides, as a fillet, to eliminate angular construction. Although a curvilinear configuration of this character is conducive to rapid and enlcient cleaning and is attractive from a design standpoint, it detracts from any features of safety with which the bath tub may be endowed. The danger of this construction resides in'the fact that in ordinary cases the sides of a bath tub are relatively high. Hence, a majority of people in entering the tub step close to the side, put one leg over the edge while resting their weight on one foot and place the other foot upon the base of the tub close to side thereof. In view of the filleted construction between the base and sides, the radius of curvature of which is, as a general rule, of an appreciable length, the bather will in the absence of due precaution step directly on some portion of the curved base and, with a wet and slippery surface of this character, may easily slip, lose his balance and be injured. The same danger is present when the bather leaves the tub.

Many modern bath tub installations include a shower. 'It is difficult to stand upon a smooth, porcelain surface or a surface of the general character of porcelain with soapy water or suds under foot as is the customary method of enjoying a shower bath. It is still more difficult to stand upon one foot, while Washing the other foot or leg, under the above conditions.

With the foregoing in View, my invention has for an object the provision of a bath tub provided with means, which in the embodiment illustrated comprises a groove, suitably disposed and adapted to prevent slipping while entering or leaving a bath tub. A further object of my invention resides in the provision of means comprising one or more grooves extending transversely of the bath tub and, preferably, a communicating longitudinally extending groove, said means being adapted to assist a bather to obtain a firm footing while standing beneath a shower.

It has been proposed, in order to prevent slipping in bath tubs, to provide the bases thereof with corrugations and matted surfaces which are not only very unconfortable to sit or stand upon but, due to the appreciable area of uneven surface entailed in this form of construction, aid very little in preventing slipping. My invention, therefore, has for a still further object the provision of means in a bath tub for preventing slipping which means are so disposed as to preserve the usual smooth base surface of the tub in those zones where it is customary for the bather to sit or stand; yet, at the same time, the bather may avail himself of the means provided to obtain a firm and secure footing.

With these and other objects in view, my invention includes the novel elements and the combinations and arrangements thereof described below and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bath tub illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally of the tub in about the plane 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in about the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig.4 is a fragmentary sectional, detail view, somewhat enlarged, illustrating the preferred disposition of a groove relative to the side of the tub;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a slight modification; and

Fig. 6 illustrates a bath tub having a modified contour and embodying a feature of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates generally a bath tub having a base Zand sides 3 which may be perpendicular to the base or upwardly diverging to a small degree. The base 2, of course, is preferably inclined toward the end 4 for drainage purposes, though the inclination is not illustrated. The other end 5 may extend obliquely, as illustrated, with respect to the base 2 or may be disposed in any suitable angular relation thereto.

A groove 6 is disposed in the base of the tub and preferably molded therein, the ends thereof merging with the surface of the tub approximately at or slightly beyond the end of the base adjacent the end 5. Groove 6 comprises the portions 6a which extend longitudinally of the base of the tub, preferably along the edges thereof and adjacent the sides 3, and the transversely-extending portion 6b which also preferably follows the contour of the tub in the same spaced relationship as portion 6a. The groove 61) is disposed for simplicity of design to include the drain opening 1 so that the grooves 6a, which are preferably of substantially equal depths throughout the major portions thereof in the inclined base 2, may discharge through the drain 1. From an inspection of Fig. 4, it will be seen that one edge of groove 6a is curved to merge with the base 2 of the tub and the other edge forms an element of a reverse curve which merges with the side 3.

It is evident that with the disposition of groove 6 in the above described manner, that a person may step directly on said groove or use an edge thereof to prevent himself from slipping when entering or leaving the tub. The grooves are preferably of a width slightly less than that of the average persons foot so that the foot may be, in effect, slightly wedged in the groove in order to secure a firm footing. In the event that other grooves, hereinafter to be described, are not included, the disposition of the groove 6 adjacent the sides permits the usual uniform, smooth and unbroken surface of the base of the tub to be retained. And, even in the event of the provision of other grooves, hereinafter described, a smooth surface is retained over a major portion of the base to provide a seat, for example, for the bather which is comparatively comfortable and unaffected by reason of the provision of said grooves. Furthermore, a groove disposed as above indicated, provides an immediate means for preventing slipping while entering and leaving the tub and not merely a means for arresting a sliding motion after it has once started.

As hereinbefore set forth, I may provide my bath tub with the groove 6, only, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and form a tub admirably adapted to prevent slipping for all ordinary bathing purposes. However, I prefer to include one or preferably two grooves extending transversely of the tub and a longitudinal groove in addition to the groove 6. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, I have provided two grooves 8 and 9 which extend transversely of the base 2 and communicate with groove 6, as illustrated, for drainage purposes. A longitudinally extending groove I 0 is also provided which is substantially coextensive with the portions 6a of groove 6 and communicates with grooves 8, 9 and the transverse portion 61) of groove 6, preferably adjacent the drain opening 1.

The intersecting grooves 8, 9 and I9 serve as a means to prevent the bather from slipping while taking a shower in the same manner as the groove 6 aids a bather in entering and leaving the tub. For example, a bather may stand with one or both feet in the zone of intersection of the grooves 8, 9 and I0 and, in the manner outlined above in connection with the groove 6, may easily maintain his balance without fear of slipping. Obviously, one of the intersections may be used to preserve stability while standing upon one foot as is often done to facilitate washing the other.

The provision of two transversely extending grooves, spaced a suitable distance apart, is preferable in order that a firm stance may be obtained with both feet. Preferably, the groove i9 is disposed substantially on the longitudinal axis of the base 2 and the grooves 8 and 9 are spaced a sufficient extent to permit a bather to sit upon the base of the tube without discomfort.

It is to be understood that groves 8, 9 and ID are comparable in width and depth to groove 6 and the widths thereof are slightly less than the width of an average adult foot. Hence, a bather may, for example, insert his foot or feet sidewise in a wedge-like manner in the grooves or in the grooves at their intersections and secure a firm footing While taking a shower.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the bottom of groove ll curves upwardly and merges with the side 3 of the bath tub. This construction eliminates the reverse curve which is present in the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 and illustrates an alternative groove formation.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a bath tub Ia of modified design wherein the sides, including the ends, bear a uniform angular relationship to the base 2, and, hence, a bather may enter or leave from a side or an end. Therefore, a groove l2, extending about the base and adjacent the sides of the tub, is provided, the groove, for convenience, including the drain opening I for drainage purposes.

It will be understood that in the aforegoing description and in the appended claims the term side broadly includes the ends of the bath tub and the term end is employed in its usual specific sense.

In making a tub embodying the features of my invention, it is evident that the groove construction illustrated may readily be molded therein. Further, if the tub be constructed, for example, of cast iron or other suitable material, the tub may be molded with the grooves therein and the surface thereafter enameled or treated in any suitable manner, the conformation of the grooves being preserved.

It will also be understood that the grooves may be formed with any suitable cross sectional configuration provided, of course, the edges are smooth and the grooves are of sufiicient depth to serve the purposes intended. Furthermore, the disposition of the grooves relative to each other and the sides of the tub may be varied to some extent provided the features of safety and utility of the construction, hereinbefore set forth, are not impaired.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

l. A bath tub of the character described comprising a base having a substantially smooth surface upon which a bather may sit and stand and said base being provided with a groove extending longitudinally of the tub and substantially adjacent a side thereof; said groove being of a width slightly less than the width of the average adult foot and of a depth to permit a bather to insert his foot sidewise therein to prevent slipping while entering said tub.

2. A bath tube of the character described comprising a base having a substantially smooth surface upon which a bather may sit and stand and said base being provided with a groove extending longitudinally thereof and substantially adjacent a side of said tub and a groove extending transversely of said base; said grooves being of a width slightly less than the width of the average adult foot and of a depth to permit a bather to insert his foot sidewise therein to prevent slipping while entering said tub.

3. A bath tub of the character described comprising a base having a substantially smooth surface upon which a bather may sit and stand and said base being provided with a groove extending transversely of said base and longitudinally and on opposite sides thereof substantially adjacent the sides of said tub; said groove being of a Width slightly less than the width of the average adult foot and of a depth to permit a bather to insert his foot sidewise therein to prevent slipping while entering said tub.

4. In a bath tub, a base having a substantially smooth surface upon which a bather may sit and stand, a drain opening at one end thereof, longitudinally extending grooves defining edges of said smooth surface and a groove connecting said first mentioned grooves with said drain opening; said longitudinally extending grooves being of a width slightly less than the width of the average adult foot and of a depth to permit a bather to insert his foot sidewise therein to prevent slipping.

5. A bath tub comprising a base having a substantially smooth surface upon which a bather may sit and stand, said base being provided with a first groove extending longitudinally and transversely thereof substantially adjacent a side and an end thereof, a second groove extending transversely of said base and a third groove spaced from the sides of said tub and communicating with said first and second groove; said grooves being of a width slightly less than the width of the average adult foot and of a depth to permit a bather to insert his foot sidewise therein to prevent slipping.

6. A bath tub of the character described comprising a base having a substantially smooth surface upon which a bather may sit and stand and said base being provided with a groove extending about and defining said smooth surface; said groove being disposed substantially adjacent the sides of said tub and being of a width slightly less than the width of the average adult foot and of a depth to permit a bather to insert his foot sidewise therein to prevent slipping while entering and leaving the tub.

'7. A bath tub of the character described comprising a base having a substantially smooth surface upon which a bather may sit and stand and said base being provided with a first groove extending longitudinally thereof and adjacent a side of said tub, a second, transversely extending groove and a third groove extending longitudinally of said base and spaced from said first groove but communicating with and intersecting said second, transverse groove; said grooves being of a width slightly less than the width of the average adult foot and of a depth to permit a bather to insert his foot sidewise therein to prevent slipping.

8. A bath tub of the character described comprising a base having a substantially smooth surface over the major portion thereof and upon which a bather may sit and stand, said base being provided with a first groove extending longitudinally thereof and a second groove extending transversely thereof and communicating with said first groove; said grooves being of a width substantially less than the width of an average adults foot and of a depth to permit a foot to be inserted therein in a sidewise, wedge-like manner to prevent slipping.

WILLIAM A. HOUSEWELLER. 

